Panossian answers education points
Q&A with school board candidates

Natalie Panossian, 33, is a graduate of Moorpark High School. She earned a law degree from Whittier Law School and a business degree from Pepperdine University. Panossian is a corporate lawyer for Ricco Printing Systems in Simi Valley.

Q: What is your opinion on Measure R? Were funds spent well? Measure S? Is it a good time to ask voters for money?

A: I believe the funds acquired through Measure R were well spent on necessary improvements and renovations of Moorpark's schools. I support Measure S to help fund additional upgrades and improvements. Like Measure R, it contains the financial safeguard of a local independent citizens' oversight committee.

Q: Should MUSD reinstate busing for high school students?

A: I believe that busing should be reinstated for those high school students who live beyond a reasonable walking distance from the high school.

Q: Do you support or oppose the late start schedule implemented last year for middle school students?

A: So long as there is continued supervision of those students who arrive early, I support the late start schedule as it allows teachers time to design more effective lessons for students and to share their knowledge in regard to instructional planning.

Q: With the onset of a supertight budget, what issues take priority with you as a possible school board member?

A: Issues that I would consider a priority are the continued safety of students, increasing student achievement and test scores, and making sure that local educators have the resources that they need to teach effectively.

Q: Do you offer any ideas as to how schools might augment their budgets in the coming years?

A: By acting more fiscally responsible when making expenditure decisions, such as by renegotiating existing vendor contracts to obtain more competitive service rates and by obtaining grants from nonprofit organizations or donations from corporations to fund school district projects.

Q: What is your stance on No Child Left Behind? Does the program continue to have legs in this era of change?

A: I support the goals of No Child Left Behind, particularly that of setting standards and holding schools accountable for their performance. However, I believe the law should be amended to address the underlying cultural problems in our education system, which can have an effect on test results, and that NCLB should provide for a stronger emphasis in math and science.

Q: What's your opinion of the DARE program? Should it be cut, reduced, expanded? Could the funding that currently goes to DARE be used more efficiently elsewhere?

A: I am a graduate of the DARE program and find it to be an effective means to protect our youth from consuming harmful substances. The DARE program focuses on students' decision-making and refusal skills in a variety of contexts and helps build a healthy relationship between law enforcement and students. I would continue funding for DARE.

Q: What is your opinion regarding the existing home schooling programs for students who aren't doing well in the structured school environments?

A: I support home schooling and understand that the traditional public school environment may not be the right learning environment for every child. However, I would want to make sure the parents have the proper support and resources to ensure the best possible education for their children.

Q: Could you outline your personal beliefs regarding teaching students about sex. At what age should such classes begin?

A: I am personally a very strong proponent of teaching abstinence-only programs in public schools. However, since the California Education Code makes such programs illegal, I support health education starting in the seventh grade that is medically accurate and age appropriate and that teaches students about abstinence, effectiveness and safety of birth control, protection from sexually transmitteddiseasesanddec i sion-making.

Q: Should school/city relations be improved? If so, how?

A: I believe there is always room for improvement in the relations between the school board and the city. It is important that both entities continue to work collaboratively with the best interests of the children of Moorpark always taking precedence.

Q: Funding for crossing guards has always been a point of contention between the city and MUSD. Who should pay for them? In hard financial times should we cut, expand, or maintain the present number of crossing guards?

A: The safety of the children of Moorpark should never be compromised. For those intersections that have a high volume of vehicular traffic during school arrival and dismissal times, a crossing guard should be maintained.

What I see as an optimal solution to limiting the amount of money spent on crossing guards is to encourage members of the community to volunteer a few hours each day to help make sure students cross streets safely.

Q: What is your opinion on the Moorpark Highlands school site issue? Should the district keep the site for a future school or try to get out of the agreement that was made with the property owner?

A: Since there is no need for a school on the 22-acre site based on an a projection of community growth and declining student enrollment, it is completely unfair for hard-working residents of the Moorpark Highlands to continue to be paying for a school which will not be built in the near future. The residents of Moorpark Highlands should receive a reduction in their assessment fees.

Although it may be difficult to get Pardee Homes to agree to amend or void a binding contract, the school board should attempt to work with the corporation in trying to achieve such a result. The school board should also work with the city and Moorpark residents in determining an alternative use for the property that would benefit the residents.

Panossian has been endorsed by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy and the Ventura County Republican Party.

This Q and A was prepared by Acorn reporter Sylvie Belmond.